NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR INTRODUCES PRECISION VOLTAGE REFERENCE FOR BATTERY-OPERATED APPLICATIONS

New Device Provides Low-Cost Shunt Voltage Reference With 0.1% Accuracy and Guaranteed 50ppm/?C Temperature Coefficient With a Small Footprint

June 14, 1999 - National Semiconductor Corporation? (NYSE:NSM) today announced the availability of the only multi-voltage precision micropower shunt voltage reference in a 3-lead SOT-23 surface mount package. The LM4050 offers an array of features that increase system performance. For example, National's precision shunt bandgap voltage reference gives designers the flexibility of five output voltages and three grade options. The device's low minimum operating current - from 60 microamps for the 2.5V option to 100 microamps for the 10.0V option - conserves battery life in portable applications using shunt reference. Housed in a tiny SOT-23 package, the LM4050 saves valuable board space in tight portable applications.

"The LM4050 propels National into the higher end of the precision reference market, and is ideal for our customers who have previously used the LM4040 and whose applications now require improved performance," said Nicolas Cuendet, marketing manager for National's Power Management Group. "The LM4040 was the first reference in a SOT-23 package and the part has become an industry standard today. The LM4050 is completely pin compatible with the LM4040 and it offers a two to three times better temperature coefficient than its predecessor."

Designed for stable operation without the need for an external capacitor, the LM4050 assures stability with any capacitive load. The fuse and zener-zap reverse breakdown voltage trim during wafer sort assure that the prime parts of the LM4050 have an accuracy of better than 0.1% (A grade). Bandgap reference temperature drift curvature correction and low dynamic impedance secure stable reverse breakdown voltage accuracy over a wide range of operating temperatures and currents.

The LM4050 is available in five voltage options (2.5V, 4096V, 5.0V, 8.192V and 10.0V) with three grades of initial accuracy (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.5%). All grades have a single temperature coefficient of 50ppm/?C (max). The LM4050 operates in the industrial temperature range of -40?C to +85?C.

Price and Availability
The LM4050 is priced at $.75 when purchased in quantities of 1,000. For more information on the LM4050, visit National's World Wide Web site at http://www.national.com/pf/lm/lm4050.html.

National Semiconductor provides system-on-a-chip solutions for the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of-the-art digital technology, the company's chips lead many sectors of the personal computer, communications, and consumer markets. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National has annual sales of more than $2 billion and 11,000 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.

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